Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, says it is reviewing its charges upward by 15 percent, citing a need for competitiveness and infrastructural upgrades.

NPA stressed that that the upward review marks first of its kind since 1993, noting that the authority was compelled by the need of bringing Nigerian ports up to speed with those of its peers globally in terms of infrastructure and equipment.

Managing Director of NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, made this known during a maritime stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, stating that; “Though the NPA rates review has already been approved by the Federal Government, but the management decided to meet with stakeholders on the issue out of the desire to carry everyone along.

“The 15 per cent upward review which is to cut across all NPA rates and dues is premised on the urgent need to address the undesirable reality of aged and weak infrastructure.

“We need to address obsolete equipment and slow port capacity expansion which has continued to diminish performance and, indeed, competitiveness of Nigerian ports.

“Port authorities depend on revenue from operations to stay alive to their responsibilities which include construction and maintenance of port infrastructure.

“Other responsibilities are dredging of channels, provision of aids for safe navigation, provision of modern marine crafts for efficient harbour services, automation and digitisation of port transactions, port security, energy efficiency and training and retraining of its employees,” Dantsoho said.